 The
beauty of real stone and marble is unsurpassed. Striking
arrays of color, durable, natural beauty and affordable,
granite, marble, travertine, slate and limestone are
perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, hearths and entryways
as well as outdoor uses such as patios. At Capitol Carpet & Tile,
we have a wide selection of patterns, textures,
sizes and colors. No matter what the decor or
color scheme, south Florida residents can find the perfect
natural stone and tile for their home decorating.
Because Capitol only uses top-quality installers,
Lou Morano, president and owner, stands behind every
installation and he guarantees the lowest price. Various
styles, colors and sizes at fantastic savings. We have
one of the largest selections in South Florida of granite,
marble, travertine, limestone, slate and much more.
Common Stone Types
Scientific versus Commercial Definition
Stones, and the minerals of which they are composed,
have been studied with keen interest in the earth science
fields for centuries. Geology is the study
of the formation and history of the earth, while petrography is
the study of rocks and the minerals of which they're
made. Geologists and petrographers worldwide have defined
hundreds of different rock types, based on their mineral
composition, texture, and method of formation. Commercially,
the use of the exact scientific rock definition would
be a cumbersome and unnecessarily complicated practice.
Furthermore, there are many rocks which are not clearly
within one definition or another, but rather "straddling
the fence" between two definitions. This point
is further elaborated by the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS).
Department of the Interior:
Scientific and commercial descriptions
of various dimension stone types overlap. The
scientific description of dimension stone types
is focused primarily on the stone's geographic
locality and mineralogical composition, whereas
the commercial description is focused primarily
on the locality and color of the stone.
Historically, it has been
commercial practice to group stones within performance
and behavioral groups as opposed to true scientific
definition. This is recognized in several in ASTM International
standards.
While scientifically there are hundreds of rock type
identifications, only nine groups are commonly acknowledged
commercially: Granite, Limestone, Marble, Onyx,
Quartzite, Sandstone, Serpentine, Slate, Soapstone,
and Travertine. This means that some rocks are
included in groups which are not perfectly coincident
with their scientific definition. High density and/or
partially metamorphosed limestones, especially those
capable of taking a polish, are oftentimes included
in the marble group, because they appear, behave and
perform more similarly to marble than to limestone.
Most igneous rocks, such as gabbro, diabase, anorthosite,
sodalite, gneiss, basalt, and many others are included
in the granite group because they behave and perform
similarly to granite. There are even a few non-igneous
rocks (e.g. silicate-based conglomerates) that are
commercially grouped with granites. Therefore, if you
purchase a Crema Marfil "marble" vanity top,
don't be surprised if your geologist friend visits
your home and insists that it is limestone, because
scientifically it is. Likewise, don't be surprised
of the same geologist friend informs you that your
Paradisio "granite" bar top and your Absolute
Black "granite" kitchen island are really
gneiss and gabbro respectively, because scientifically
that's what they are. The
key is performance. If a rock is sold within the granite
group, the rock should be expected to have performance
in that application that is similar, or in some cases
superior, to that of a true granite.
The informed selection of natural stone products
is also influenced by the tastes of the end user. To
some, natural wear, etching, or weathering bring about
a hidden charm, or natural "patina" as the
stone displays signs of its yielding to the forces
encountered in its service. To others, the only acceptable
performance is for the stone to maintain its pristine, "as
new" look for the entire duration of its service
life. Selections of natural stone types are available
to satisfy both users, but the proper research must
be completed to assure that the selected stone will
perform in service with the desired behavior.
Granite
An excellent choice for kitchen countertops,
floors, and other heavily used surfaces
Exact and current extraction figures are
not available, as data collection from many
countries is difficult. Statistics from various
sources indicate that the granite quarried
in the countries of China, India, and Brazil
comprises approximately 2/3 of the granite used worldwide.
There are granite quarries in operation in dozens of
countries, and it is one of the most popular natural
stones on the market. New granite resources are continually
being located and developed throughout the world.
Granite has long enjoyed use as an exterior cladding
and pavement material, and its inherent strength, abrasion
resistance and superior weathering durability are likely
to keep it one of the preeminent material selections
available to today's architects. Granite has also been
employed as the traditional material for municipal
curbs, where its strength and durability have been
documented with decades of vehicular abuse. In the
northern climates where snow melting chemicals are
used heavily, granite has resisted the attack of these
caustic agents.
Being one of the hardest of the dimension stone types,
granite was historically avoided by the smaller, local
stone fabricating shops, who favored marbles and limestones
due to their easier working properties. A recent boom
in the supply of affordable machinery and abrasives
technologies eliminated these previous difficulties
in fabrication. The use of granite has skyrocketed
in residential interior applications as a result. Available
in a striking array of colors, granite's durability,
longevity, and economy make it ideal for kitchen countertops
and other heavily used surfaces, including table tops
and floors.
Marble & Onyx
Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors and
hearths
Marble is a metamorphic rock found in the mountainous
regions of most countries of the world. Marble quarried
in India, China, Italy, and Spain represents the majority
of marble, in terms of volume, that is utilized worldwide.
Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is a popular
choice for countertops, floors, foyers, fireplace facings
and hearths, walls, and windowsills.
Marble with its inherent warmth, adds a sophisticated
element to the area in which it is installed. Its naturally
random appearance, engineering characteristics, and
ease of maintenance makes it a premium choice for floors,
wall claddings, table tops, wainscot, floors, and vanity
tops. Many marbles are well suited for wet area application,
which extends the versatility of this material to include
tub decks and showers.
The calcite crystal is the basic building block of
true marbles. The calcite crystal is vulnerable to
attack by mild acids, including those commonly found
in kitchen and bar settings. The user selecting marble
for these applications should be aware of, and accepting
of the maintenance and patina that is to be anticipated
with this combination. Acid rain and other weathering
elements can also affect exterior marble installations,
and exterior applications are generally limited to
white marbles, with some exceptions.
.
Onyx is often confused with marbles, yet it is a significantly
different rock type. Onyx is a sedimentary rock, formed
as stalactites and stalagmites in cave interiors. This
formation method results in the cryptocrystalline construction
of the rock fabric, and it is the size and uniformity
of these crystals that contribute to the classic translucent
property of most onyx varieties. While vulnerable to
chemical and abrasive attack, the decorative appeal
of onyx is perhaps unsurpassed by any other material.
Slate and Soapstone
Versatile, Chemically Resistant Materials
A traditional use of both these materials was
the laboratory table top in chemistry labs.
That application alone should serve as a great
testimonial to the chemical resistance of the
materials.
Being of the softer varieties of dimension stone types,
neither of these materials is known for particularly
high abrasion or scratch resistance, yet they are both
used a flooring and countertop products.
Soapstone is highly heat resistant, and has been
used in fireplace surrounds frequently to take advantage
of this property.
Slate, being of laminar construction, has the ability
to be processed into thin sheets and still maintain
serviceable strength and rigidity. This property makes
slate the only dimension stone having been used for
blackboards and roofing shingles. It was also traditionally
used as the cloth-covered playing surface of billiards
tables.
Travertine and Limestone,
An earthy appeal, indoors and out
Limestone deposits exist in all continents
of the earth. Despite the common and traditional
reference to "travertine
marble", travertine is really a type of limestone.
It is actually the terrestrial (land) formed version
of limestone, as opposed to the marine based formations
of many other limestone varieties.
Featuring their soft earth tones, decorators integrating
these stones into their design have great flexibility
in selecting complimentary colors for other interior
elements.
Many varieties of both materials have enjoyed a successful
history of exterior application, and some of the most
prominent government and financial institutions worldwide
proudly display limestone as their exterior cladding.
Despite the popularity of exterior vertical limestone
applications, the number of limestone varieties with
successful history in exterior paving applications,
particularly in freeze/thaw environments, is relatively
limited.
Since these stones are some of the softer varieties
of natural stone materials, they have long been a popular
choice for intricately carved features and moldings,
as well as statuary. |
